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PhotDgraphic 

Sciences 

Corporailion 


23  WF;3T  MAIN  STMIT 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute 


for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historlques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag^e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  inK  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


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Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

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Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
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mais.  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  f ilmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


The 
tot 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mtthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

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Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  d6color6es.  tachetdes  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
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Transparence 

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Quality  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
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Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I — I  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~T|  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

rri  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


The 
poa 
of  1 
filnr 


Orii 
bes 
the 
sioi 
oth 
firs 
sioi 
ori 


Th< 
sha 
Tl^ 
wh 

Ma 
difl 
ent 
ba( 
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req 
me 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
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ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


/ 


20X 


MX 


30X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


I 


The  copy  filmed  here  hee  been  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

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Archives  of  Canada 


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gAntrositA  de: 

La  bibiiothdque  des  Archives 
pubiiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  en 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  Impres- 
sion, or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  Ail 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
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required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  Images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exempleires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  film6s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exempleires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premldre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmfo  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichA,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


^    t 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i 


A  S' 


GEOLOGICAL  SURYEYS  AND  EEPOETS 


ON  TIIK  PKOrKUTY  OF  THE 


'$x\\i\4  %xiMmi  P^inmjg  djir. 


TOWNSHIP   OF   SOUTH  IIAM,   CANADA  EAST. 


TOOKTIIKU    Wnil 


A  STATEMENT  OF  THE  CONDITION  AND  PROSPECTS 

OF  THE  COMPANY. 


BOSTON: 
PRESS  OF  GEO.  C.  RAND  &  AVERY,  3  CORNHILL. 

1864. 


•  \ 


MCOLET  ANTIMONY  MINING  CO. 

TOWNSHIP  OF  SOUTH  HAM,  CANADA  EAST. 


TO  „K  0UO.M.Kn   .NOBU  A  SPKCU.  CUAUTK.  KUOM   X„K   CANAmA.  PAKUAMKKT. 


CAPITAL   STOCK 


$500,000. 


IK    100,000    SHARES,    AT    $5.00    EACH. 


WOUlvING  CAIUTAL  IN  THE  TllEASUllY 


$25,000. 


OFFICERS. 

President. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer. 
SERKNO    X>.    NICKERSON. 


Directors. 


Reuben   A..   Richards 
John  J.   M:ay    - 
Jklex.   H.   Rice 
TVilhs  Russell 
"W'm.  IS.   Katon 
"W.  A.   Russell 
S.  D.  Nicker  son    - 


Boston. 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Quebec,  Canada  East. 

Boston. 

Ijawrence,  IVLass. 

Boston. 


Office  of  the  Company 
No.    ro    STATE   STREET       -       -       -       BOSTON. 


™ 


NICOLET  ANTIMONY   MINING   COMrANV. 


The  mine  is  situated  in  the  townsliip  of  Soutli  Ham,  county 
of  Wolfo,  Canada  East.  It  lies  about  twenty-five  miles  I'roni 
Arthabaska  station  on  the  Grand  Trunk  Kailway,  that  station 
being  distant  from  Quebec  sixty-three  miles.  The  property 
consists  of  1G3  acres  of  land,  well  wooded,  and  where  the 
veins  have  been  opened,  rising  ground  admirably  adapted  for 
mining.  The  Company  owns  this  tract  in  fee-simple,  free 
from  any  royalty  or  claim  whatever.  AVithin  a  few  rods  of 
the  property  is  the  beautiful  Lake  Xicolet,  the  source  ot  the 
river  of  that  name,  emptying  into  the  river  St.  Francis.  The 
river  Xicolet  can  be  made  navigable  at  a  moderate  expense, 
if  it  should  be  thought  desirable,  and  in  such  an  enterprise 
several  other  com])anies  now  working  mines  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  would  join.  Wood  costs  only  the  expense  of 
cutting,  and  labor  is  abundant  and  cheap.  1'iie  mine  is  so  sit- 
uated, upon  a  hill  rising  800  feet  above  the  level  of  the  lake, 
that  adits,  or  tunnels,  may  be  driven  at  a  much  less  outlay 
than  would  be  re([uired  for  the  sinking  of  shafts,  which  is  the 
ordinary  mode  of  mining. 

A  peculiar  feature  of  this  mine  is,  that  native  antimony  is 
hero  found  in  large  quantities,  almost  the  pure  metal,  with  the 
admixture  of  very  little  foreign  matter.  In  this  form  it  is 
believed  to  exist  in  no  other  mine. 

The  accompanying  Reports  and  Geological  Surveys  contain 
so  full  a  description  of  the  property,  and  so  clearly  set  forth 
its  merits,  that  it  would  bo  but  useless  repetition  to  enlarge 
upon  these  points. 

A  com[)any  has  l>een  formed,  comprising  some  of  tlie  largest 
d(!alers  in  the  metal  in  tlie  city  of  Boston,  for  the  purpose  of 
thoroughly  developing  and  systematically  mining  these  lands. 
A  speciid  charier  of  the  im*M  favorable  charactei"  is  now  await- 


i 


ing  its  third  reading  in  tlio  Frovinciul  Parlinniont..  Tn  tlic 
moan  time  the  work  at  the  mine  is  being  vigorously  prosecuted 
under  the  direction  ofllerbert  Williams,  Esq.,  the  well-known 
and  aecom])lished  Superintendent  of  the  Harvi^y  Hill  Mine. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  (^.mpany  is  ilxed  at  .^500,000,  di- 
vi(hMl  into  100.000  shares,  of  the  par  value  of  $5,00  each.  A 
working  capital  of  s25,000  is  now  in  the  treasury. 

The  most  sanguine  expectations  of  the  success  of  the  enter- 
])rise  are  entertained  by  the  parties  engaged  in  it,  and  arc! 
expressed  by  the  nnm'enms  authorities  on  mining  subjects 
who  have  visitiMl  the  locality. 


IJEPOUT   OF    PROF.    ALIIERT   D.   IIACJER. 


I'lMM  ToKsvii.M'.,  Vt.,  fimm  1,  1H(!.'{. 

WiiJ.is   IJrssKLL,  Esq. 

I)i;ai{  Slit:- — ^  In  pui'siniiicc  of  voiir  r(H|iR'st,  1  will  Itriefly 
(Icscrihc  and  ti'.iiisniit  to  yoii  the  oliscrvatioiis  wliicli  1  iiukIu 
oil  the  liiltli  of  May,  ISO."},  wlieii  in  your  ('oni])aiiy,  at  the  An- 
timony Mine,  South  Hani,  Canada  East. 

TIiIh  niiiu'  consists  of  the  outcro])  of  a  vein  of  the  snlplutret 
of  iiitfimoN//,  which  is  t'ound  upon  the  southern  declivity  of  a 
steej)  hill  on  Lot  28  of  the  first  rani;'0  in  the  town  of  South 
Jlani,  county  of  Wolfe,  Canada  East. 

Xothiui;-  likt'  systematic  niinin;;'  has  yet  been  attempted  at 
this  ])lace,  and  the  only  means  at  hand  for  judging-  of  the  ex- 
tent of  the  ore,  or  the  value  of  the  dei)osit,  results  from  the 
removal  of  ])ortions  of  the  outcro[)ping  rock  by  a  few  l)lasts 
of  gunj)o\vder,  and  also  the  removal  of  the  thin  covering  ol 
earth,  by  which  a  face  of  rock  about  sixty  foot  long  and  four 
to  six  leet  wide  is  exposed  to  view. 

Upon  this  exposure  of  rock,  a  thin  but  continuous  and  well- 
delined  vein  of  the  brilliant  sulphuret  of  antimony  is  visible 
for  the  distance  of  ten  feet  in  length,  corresponding  nearly 
with  the  sti'iko  of  the  strata  of  rock  enclosing  it,  and  Avero 
more  of  the  surface  rock  removed,  a  vein  of  much  greater 
length  would  doubtless  be  presented,  for  between  the  walls  of 
rock,  in  the  disintegrated  vein,  are  found  numerous  fragments 
of  the  ore,  completely  oxydized,  but  when  broken  show  a  core 
of  the  bright  sulphuret  of  antimony. 

The  rock  forming  the  walls  of  the  vein  is  an  indurated  tal- 
coso   schist,  into  which  silex  enters  in  such  quantities  as  to 
form  quartzite  in  some  places.     The  i)la<A3s  of  stratification  or     y^ 
foliation  are  quite  distinct,  but  much  curved  and  jointed  the 
whole  length  of  the  exposure. 


f'li  1 1 


8 


At  the  southwestern  end  of  the  outcrop,  tlie  strike  of  the 
rock  is  north  40°  east,  but  suddenly  curves,  and  in  other  places 
is  nearly  east  and  west,  corresponding  with  the  general  direc- 
tion of  the  hill  upon  which  the  mine  is  located. 

In  addition  to  the  pure  ore  found  in  the  vein,  there  are  nu- 
merous sprinklings  of  an  impure  variety,  that  either  fill  cavi- 
ties between  the  strata,  or  enter  into  the  composition  of  the 
rock. 

B^roni  this  circumstance,  taken  in  connection  with  others,  we 
are  inclined  to  the  belief  that  upon  making  further  examina- 
tions ah)ng  the  hillside,  or  by  the  removal  of  rock  so  as  to 
reach  the  vein  at  greater  depths,  rich  lodes  of  the  ore  will  be 
found.  This,  however,  behig  the  first  mine  of  antimony  which 
we  ever  visited,  our  opinion  is  not  entitled  to  the  confidence 
that  should  attach  to  the  views  of  one  familiar  with  mines  of 
this  character,  and  should  not  induce  you  or  any  one  else  to 
incur  a  heavy  expenditure  of  money  in  developing  the  mine, 
unless  upon  penetrating  it  there  are  found  additional  encour- 
agements that  favor  the  further  prosecution  of  the  Avork. 

The  ore  has  a  specific  gravity  of  about  4.1,  and  has  the  ap- 
pearance of  being  very  rich.  There  are  two  varieties  Avhich 
are  blended  together  in  the  vein,  and  insensibly  pass  into  each 
other.  One  has  a  laminated  structure,  with  a  bright  metallic 
lustre,  very  strongly  resembling  argentiferous  galena,  and  the 
other,  like  the  antimony  from  the  valuable  mines  of  Borneo, 
consists  of  bundles  of  needle-shaped  crystals,  closely  aggre- 
gated, and  forming  masses  of  the  ore. 
With  the  best  wishes  for  your  success, 

I  remain  faithfully  yours, 

ALBERT   D.   IIAGER, 
Geologist  for  the  State  of  Vermont. 


REPORT  OF  PROF.   WILLIAM  DENTON. 


QricHEC,  July  2,  1863. 
S.  L.  French,  Esq.,  Boston. 

Dear  Sir  :  At  your  request  I  have  visited  the  mine  of  na- 
tive antimony,  situated  in  Soutli  Ham,  Canada  East,  and  sub- 
mit tlie  following  report  upon  it: — 

Tlie  property  on  which  the  mine  is  situated  consists  of  162 
acres  near  to  Lake  Nicolet,  in  a  liighly  metalliferous  as  well 
as  most  beautiful  refi;ion,  and  is  distant  from  Arthabaska,  on 
the  Grand  Trunk  Railway,  about  twenty-five  miles.  The  mine 
is  on  the  side  of  a  wooded  hill  about  three  hundred  feet  high, 
and  the  opening  that  has  been  made  in  connection  with  it  is 
about  one  hundred  feet  in  perpendicular  height  above  its  base. 

The  first  discovery  of  the  metal  was  made  n  a  perpendicu- 
lar vein  about  an  inch  wide  ;  but  subsequently  it  was  discov- 
ered to  the  east  of  that  in  a  vein  which  ound  to  be  in 
places  fourteen  inches  wide ;  not  holding  that  breadth  for  a 
great  distance,  however,  but  swelling  and  contracting,  sev- 
eral times  as  it  runs  along  a  distance  of  a  hundred  feet  in  a 
nearly  horizontal  line,  along  which  it  has  been  traced.  The 
rock  in  which  the  vein  is  situated  is  schistose,  but  varies  in 
its  composition  in  different  parts  of  the  hill.  The  gangue,  or 
substance  associated  with  the  metal  in  the  vein  s  brecciated 
quartz,  the  brecciated  character  of  it  probably  resulting  from 
the  disturbance  to  which  the  rock  holding  the  vein  was  sub- 
jected at  some  remote  period. 

The  direction  of  the  principal  vein  is  twenty  degrees  east 
of  north,  and  its  dip  toward  the  north  and  into  the  hill  is  sixty- 
seven  degrees.  Out  of  it  have  been  taken,  I  was  informed, 
masses  of  native  antimony,  some  of  Avliich  wore  more  than 
a  hundred  pounds  in  weight.  In  our  presence,  witli  but  little 
difficulty,  was  extracted  a  large  quantity,  bright  as  ilver,  and 
having  but  a  slight  admixture  of  earthy  matter  so  that  by 


8 


simply  iHcltiii};',  wliicli  could  icudily  bo  doni'  upon  tlio  spot,  it 
nii};lit  bo  reduced  to  a  niiirkotablc  state  at  very  little;  expenHc. 

About  forty  feet  above  tiu;*  principal  vein  another  was  dis- 
covered while  we  were  pri>si'ul.  This  vein  a|»|)ears  to  be 
about  eight  iuelies  wide.  TluM-e  is  but  little  metal  associated 
Avith  the  ,ujxuinue,  which  is  crystalli/ed  quart/,  but  it  is  dissem- 
inated throuj^h  the  rock  lor  six  inches  on  each  side  of  the 
vein,  making  an  oi-e  IVom  which,  iiy  ci'ushing  and  washing,  the 
metal  can  readily  he  extracK'd.  A  sti'eam  flowing  through 
the  valley  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  might  be  em|)loyed  for  that 
pur[)ose.  - 

Along  the  side  of  the  hill,  firther  east,  other  small  veins 
appear,  bearing  antimony.  Tlu'y  can  be  readily  traced  l)y 
the  white  oxide  which  appears  upon  the  surfiice.  It  is  evident 
that  a  number  of  small  veins  exist  suboi-dinate  to  the  large 
one,  and  that  the  hill  contains  a  large  body  of  nearlv  ])ure 
antimony  under  circumstances  extremely  liivoi-able  to  its  ex- 
traction. The  rock  can  be  readily  removed,  as  it  is  easily 
broken  up,  and  the  position  of  the  mine  is  such  that  little  or 
no  expense  need  bo  incuried  for  the  removal  of  water  in 
draining  the  mine. 

I  roc.mmend  costeaning,  about  fifty  feet  below  the  nn'ne, 
ahmg  the  side  of  the  hill,  where  I  think  the  principal  vein 
may  be  found  in  a  perpendiculai'  [josition,  its  present  horizon- 
tal one  m  the  upper  [)art  being  th«  result  of  disturbance.  Jf 
no  vein  is  found  at  a  lower  level,  then  an  adit  may  be  driven 
into  the  hill  from  this  point,  and  the  vein  reached  under  cir- 
cumstances more  favorable  for  the  future  i)rosecutiou  of  the 
work. 

I  am,  my  dear  sir, 

With  much  ]-ospect, 

Yours  truly, 

WILLIAM    DENTON. 


UKPOllT  OF  CHARLES   ROBH,  i:SQ. 


■"<^^nA 


53  St.  Fkancoih  Xaviku  St.,  Montkkal,  22tl  Oct.,  ISG.'J. 

Willis  Russell,  Esq.,  Queuec. 

Dear  Srii:  —  At  your  requoHt,  suid  in  company  with  Mr.  0. 
A.  Russoll,  1  last  wouk  visited  and  insj)oc:tod  your  property  in 
Soutli  Ham,  C.  E.,  on  wliicli  veins  of  antimony  and  otlicr  valu- 
able nn'nerals  and  metals  have  recently  been  1i  covered.  As 
the  result  of  my  observations  1  have  now  the  honor  to  submit 
the  i()lIowinjj;  Rejujrt,  to^'ether  with  a  jtlan  of  the  ])ro))erty.  J 
propose  to  confine  my  remarks  on  the  pret^uut  occasio)i  to  the 
antimonv  ni'ne,  the  other  minerals  found  on  the  })roperty  not 
having'  as  yet  been  develo})ed  to  any  adequate  extent. 

i  his  ])ropertv  is  underlaid  by  rocks  of  the  Quebec  group  of 
thi!  lowei*  silurian  system  ;  being  the  same  geological  forma- 
tion in  which  the  gold,  co})per,  and  other  valuable  metals  of 
Eastern  Canada  occur;  hitherto,  however,  this  is  the  only  in- 
stance in  which  antimony  has  been  found  in  this  country. 
1'he  prevailing  rocks  on  your  ])roperty  consist  of  argillaceous 
chloritic  and  ej>idotic  slate,  associated  with  interstratified 
bands  of  serpentine,  dolomitic  limestone,  and  diallage  rock, 
forming  a  species  of  diorite.  Such  changes  of  rock,  occurring 
in  a  metalliferous  region,  and  especially  when  taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  evidences  of  local  disturbance  which  also 
here  present  themselves,  must  be  regarded  as  highly  condu- 
cive to  the  concentration  of  the  ores  near  the  points  where 
they  occur. 

The  veins  of  antimony  which  are  fi)und  on  Lot  28,  Range 
East,  have  been  exposed  on  the  side  of  a  bluff  or  ridge  facing 
the  south  and  rising  to  an  elevatif  u  of  about  150  feet  above 
the  drainage  level.  They  occur  in  the  slate  rock,  and  in  the 
form  of  true  and  well-defined  lodes,  cutting  the  rock  of  the 
country  both  in  dip  and  strike.     The  principal  vein,  marked 

2 


ii 


10 


I- 


i    I 

I    i 

■     I 

s 

t. 

f 

> 

,1 

/ 


u- 


No.  1  in  tlie  enlarged  plan,  bears  east  12°  30'  soutli,  the  strike 
of  the  rocks  hohig  about  north  53°  east.  Ant)ther  vein,  marked 
No.  2,  lias  been  uncovered,  bearing-  nearly  northwest  and 
southeast,  and  a  third,  No.  3,  has  a  course  north  37°  east.  It 
will  thus  l)e  observed  that  tliese  three  veins,  which  are  all 
well-dehned,  and  hold  a  })ertectly  straight  course,  not  only  cut 
the  slate  rock,  but  will  intersect  each  other  at  acute  angles. 
These  points  of  intersection  are  at  no  great  distance  apart, 
and  the  area  enclosed  by  thcni  contains  other  subordinate 
veins  or  feeders  ;  hence  it  seems  reasonable  to  infer  that  within 
this  area,  and  at  no  great  distance  from  the  surliice,  the  ore 
will  be  found  in  abundance  and  in  a  high  state  of  concentra- 
tion. Other  veins  of  antimony  have  been  discovered  on  the 
same  lot,  at  some  distance  beyond  Nos.  2  and  3,  and  pai'ailel 
to  them,  as  shown  en  the  general  plan. 

A  pit  about  sixteen  feet  stpiare  has  been  sunk  to  the  depth 
of  eighteen  feet  on  the  princi])al  vein.  No.  1,  at  tlie  j)oint  imli- 
cated  on  the  plan.  Here  the  vein  at  the  surface  was  not  more 
thanibur  inches  thick,  luit  at  the  depth  specified  has  increasi'd 
gradually  to  twenty  inches  thick,  showing  througiiout  straight 
and  Avell-deiined  walls  and  undcrhing  70°  north.  The  vein 
consists  of  a  black,  slaty  (piartz  ore  and  chloritic  rock  (possi- 
bly hornblendic),  containing  nati^'e  antimony,  sul|)huret  of 
antimony,  (?^b  ,S3)  white  oxide  of  antimony,  and  red  oxy-sul- 
phuret  of  antimony  (kermesitc);  also  a  little  co|>f)er  ]»yrites 
and  broAvn  spar.  Large  masses  of  solid  metalHc  antimony 
have  been  obtained  from  tliis  working;  but  it  is  probable  that 
in  siidving  the  vein  will  be  found  to  yiehl  chielly  the  sulphuret 
of  antimony,  or  antimony  glance,  which,  containing  73  ]»ci- 
cent,  of  the  nietab  and  being  mori'  easily  treated,  will  be  found 
not  less  advantageous  to  work  than  tlu^  native  metal.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  rich  masses  refeiTcd  to,  the  ore  occurs  dissemi- 
nated through  the  vein  in  radiating,  prismatic  crystallizations, 
in  fibrous  strings  and  in  thin  |>lates  ;  it  appears  to  be  in  gi'cat- 
ost  (quantity  t(»wards  the  hanging-wall.  What  the  average 
metallic  contents  of  the  vein  may  be  1  had  no  means  of  ascer- 
taining, no  experiment  having  yet  been  made  in  dressing  the 
ore  ;  but  from  the  powerful  influence  which  the  niefals  have 
obviously  exerted  hi  moditying  the  mineral  cjj^iructer  of  the 

,  /  / / "\ .   f-j .. ; /?.:    .■  y /.  ^ /  ...x; /r y 


>■'<: 


/ 


^  V.  C^  ^  A...-y^/  (  (  >(t  (U. 


c 


L'l^ 


A 

v;;^ 


tlie  strike 
n,  marked 
west  and 
east.  It 
3h  are  all 
t  only  cut 
te  angles. 
K'o  apart, 
bordinate 
lat  within 
},  the  ore 
:onceutra- 
'd  on  the 
d  i)ai'allel 

Hie  de]>tli 
oint  indi- 
nt)t  more 
increased 
t  straight 
Th(!  vein 
ck  ( possi- 
)liuret  of 
1  oxy-sul- 
r  ]>y rites 
antimony 
lalile  that 
■*ul|)iiuj-et 
^  73  ])er 
he  foiuid 
.  In  ad- 
i  dissemi- 
lli/atioiis, 
ill  j^-reat- 
average 
of  ascer- 
<sing  the 
:als  have 
iv  of  the 


^- 


11 


lode  anrl  adjoining  rock,  there  can  he  little  doubt  that  they 
are  connected  with  important  deposits  at  no  great  distance. 

Tiie  vein  marked  No.  2  has  been  uncovered  to  the  extent  of 
about  thirty  feet,  and  appt'ai's  to  be  at  least  equally  important 
with  the  first;  being  12  inches  Avide,  holding  a  straight  course, 
and  di|)pnig  t(»  the  northeast  at  an  angle  of  75°.  It  has  not 
yet  been  opened  by  blasting,  but  good  specimens  of  metallic 
antimony  may  be  ol)tained  by  simjtly  breaking  the  surface 
rock.  No.  3  is  iilso  a  well-delined  lode,  but  has  not  been 
worked  on. 

Further  develo])ments  arc  necessary  in  order  to  give  data 
i()r  estimating  with  any  degree  of  certainty  the  value  of  this 
pro|)erty.  At  the  same  time  the  results  of  work  alrea<ly  done 
are  am])ly  siitlicient  to  justify  a  further  expenditure. 

The  location  of  the  [)resent  pit  is  good,  and  I  would  advise 
the  sinking  of  a  shaft  of  the  ordinary  dimensions,  to  the  depth 
of  two  fathoms  farther  at  the  east  end  of  the  pit ;  at  the  saino 
time  costeaning  and  shode  pits,  to  find  the  intersection  of  the 
veins,  and  if  rich  at  these  points,  the  work  should  be  contin- 
ued there  to  a  moderate  depth.  ^^hatts  at  these  points, 
connected  with  the  [)resent  shaft  by  a  drift  and  cross-cut  re- 
spectively, would  j)rove  the  ground  very  effectually ;  while 
the  ore  incidentally  obtained  would  probably  go  far  to  defray 
the  expense,  which,  for  all  the  work  specified,  should  not  ex- 
ceed two  thousand  dollai's.  An  average  sample  of  the  vein 
stulf  should  be  crushed  and  washed,  in  order  to  ascertain  the 
jiercentage  of  ore  to  a  given  quantity  of  rock,  and  if  it  can 
be  economically  dressed  by  washing;  the  s])ecilic  gravity  of 
the  ore  is  so  great  that  it  should  easily  se])arate  in  water  from 
the  gangue. 

1  am  disposed  to  t'orni  a  highly  favorable  oy)inion  of  this 
proj)erty  t()r  the  following  reasons  :  I.  From  the  well-ascer- 
tained fiict  that  the  ore  here,  unlike  most  of  the  metallic  de- 
posits in  Eastern  Canada,  are  contained  in  true  fissure  veins 
which  penetrate  the  strata  to  an  indefinite  extent  both  in 
length  and  tlepth,  and  are  usually  found  to  improve  the  deeper 
they  are  wrought.  2.  From  the  fact  that  three  at  least  of  these 
veins  are  found  intersecting  each  other  at  acute  angles,  and 
in  circumstances  highly  favorable  to  the  concentration  of  the 


J 


12 


k 


f-lV 
f  jf 

u 


ores ;  and,  3.  From  the  great  and  increasing  value  of  the 
metal,  which  is  extensively  used  as  an  alloy  with  lead  and 
tin,  in  the  manufacture  of  type  Jind  speculum  metal,  bri- 
tannia  and  Babbitt  metal,  besides  many  other  uses  and  applica- 
tions. It  is  highly  probable  that  other  valuable  metals  may  be 
found  associated  with  it. 

As  regards  drainage  and  other  natural  iacilities  foi*  mining, 
this  property  is  very  favorably  situated,  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  cross  section.  A  stream  flows  through  the  lot,  and  very 
near  to  the  mine,  affording  at  all  seasons  an  ample  supply  of 
water  for  washing  ores,  <fec.  At  the  distance  of  a  mile  and  a 
half  water-power  sufficient  for  crushing  ores  could  be  obtained 
if  desired.  There  are  seventy-five  acres  of  cleared  land  on 
the  property,  the  rest  being  covered  with  maple,  beech,  spruce, 
and  pine  timber.  The  property  is  a  freehold,  and  is  exempt 
from  royalty  or  dues  on  the  minerals  ;  it  abuts  upon  a  good 
government  road.  The  distance  to  the  nearest  station  on  the 
Grand  Trunk  Railway  (Arthabaska)  is  24  miles  ;  but  as  an 
ample  set-off  against  this  inconvenience,  the  price  of  labor  is 
remarkably  low.  Cost  of  teaming  to  railway,  $5 ;  transporta- 
tion to  Boston,  $5  per  ton. 

I  am,  dear  sir. 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 

CHARLES  ROBB, 

Mine  Engineer. 


i 


1     I: 


n 


\  ) 


LETTER  FllOM  HERBERT   WILLIAMS,  ESQ. 


IlAllVKY    IIlLI,    Coi'l'KR   IMlNKs,    l.Kl.i.s,    22(1    Oct.,    |,S(i.J. 

Wir.ijs  Russell,  Esq.,  Qukhec. 

Dear  Sir  :  — Hiivino-  again  paid  a  visit  to  your  antimony 
mine,  situate  on  Lot  \o.  28,  East  Ran-o,  South  Ham,  on  the 
20tli  inst.,  it  affords  me  niucli  pleasure  to  inform  vun  that 
since  my  previous  visit  on  tlic  8th  of  June  last,  the  'lode  has 
been  traced  at  the  surfiice  for  a  distance  of  between  30  and  40 
lathoms,  and  some  promising  samples  of  native  as  well  as  the 
sulphurct  of  antimony,  have  been  broken  along  its  outcrop. 

The  opening  that  I  advised  should  be  made  with  a  view  to 
a  more  thoi-ough  exploration  of  this  very  interesting  nn'neral 
deposit  in  a  downward  direction,  has  been  sunk  for  a  depth  of 
ab(mt  20  feet,  the  lode  having  increased  to  a  width  of  a  little 
over  two  feet,  and  carrying  the  mineral  in  fair  quantity,  with 
every  appearance  of  improving,  though  I  regret  nuicli  to  ob- 
serve that  very  little  care  has  been  taken  to  preserve  the  ore 
when  blasting  down  the  lode. 

There  are  two  other  branches  running  in  the  same  hill,  that 
may  be  regarded  as  counter  lodes  ;  these  also  carry  the  metal 
antimony  in  its  native  state,  as  also  the  sulphurct  of  the 
same  mineral.  They  should  be  carefully  exjilored,  and  1  would 
nrge  the  importance  of  more  care  being  observed  in  the  pros- 
ervation  of  the  mineral  that  may  be  broken  from  them. 

Generally,  I  consider  the  property  worthy  the  attention  of 
capitalists,  and  it  fully  merits  a  more  vigorous  trial. 
1  am,  dear  sir, 

■Y«nir  obedient  servant, 

HKRHKirr   WILLIAMS. 


K  E  P  0  R  T    ()  l<     r  1{  0  F .    HI  T  C  H  V  0  C  K 


'■ 


I  ! 


Willis  Hlsskll,  Esq. 

hivvu  Sii{ :  TIk'  tlilldwiiii;' is  IIi(>  ivport  of  my  oliscrviitioiis 
ii|i(iii  t\\v  iiiiru'  (»r  iialivc  Jiiitiindiiy  sitiiatt'd  in  IaA  No.  2S,  East 
RaiiiLi't',  i>l'  South  llaiu,  C  E. :  — 

TIk'  i)ro[)orty  consists  of  1G2  acres  of  land,  partly  improved, 
and  partly  (iccnpicd  by  a  mixed  iL>,'rowtli  of  ma])lc,  l)eccli,  ])iiic, 
and  sprucCj  much  of  it  exi-olh'nt  timber.  It  is  twenty-three 
miles  from  Arthal)aska  Station,  on  the  Quebei'  Branch  of  the 
Grand  Trunk  Railway,  over  a  p)vernment  road.  The  vein 
now  being"  worked  runs  leng'tliM'ise  of  the  lot. 

The  rock  of  the  region  is  the  Quebec  group  of  the  lower 
Silurian  of  the  same  age  with  that  in  the  eastern  townsliips, 
carrying  gold  and  copper.  Tjithologically,  the  rocks  are  chlo- 
ritic,  argillaceous,  and  micaceous  schist  with  serpentijie.  But 
the  mode  in  which  the  antimony  occurs  in  South  Ham  is  radi- 
cally diflierent  from  that  in  which  the  cop])er  ores  are  gener- 
ally distributed.  They  are  in  beds  (or  nearly  in  veins)  sub- 
onb'nate  to  the  stratilication,  wliile  th(^  antimony  is  found  in 
metallic  hjdes  cutting  across  the  strata,  and  intersecting  one 
another.  It  is  universally  conceded  that  the  cross  courses  are 
the  most  valuable  of  all  nn'neral  vt'ins,  especially  those  dipping 
northwardly  like  these  upon  your  property. 

A  general  idea  of  the  courses  of  the  dilferent  veins  and 
their  intersections  may  be  rea<lily  ascertained  by  referring  to 
Mr.  Ilobb's  very  accurate  ma])  of  the  ])roperty.  The  No.  1 
vein  of  his  classification  rujis  about  K.  fifteen  deg.  N.,  and  has 
been  uncovered  for  a  distance  of  140  fiM^t,  while  an  outcrop 
of  what  is  su])])osed  to  be  the  same  vein  has  been  noticed  half 
a  mile  westerly,  near  Nicolet  Lake.  It  lies  ahmg  the  south- 
eastern slope  of  a  steep  hill. 

Vein  No.  '2  has  the  course  of  N.  sixty  (leg.  W.,  intersecting 


15 


both  the  others.  No.  3  runs  up  the  hill  N.  E.  and  S.  W.,  dip- 
ping about  fifty  deg.  H.  E.  Nos.  1  and  2  dij)  northerly  alxuvt 
sixty  deg\  No.  3  dips  towards  the  others  at  a  smaller  angle. 
The  strata  in  the  vicinity  have  the  course  of  N.  lifty-tive  deg. 
E.  The  length  of  vein  No.  3  between  its  intersections  with 
Nos.  1  and  2  is  about  seventy-five  feet ;  while  that  of  Nt).  2  is 
about  130  feet. 

The  shaft  is  situated  upon  the  No.  1  vein.  It  is  about  twelve 
feet  sijuare,  and  has  1)een  sunk  to  the  depth  of  twenty-three 
feet,  tiie  lode  being  ascertained  to  improve  considerably  in 
the  descent.  At  its  bottom  the  Avidth  of  rock  carrying  tlio 
metal  is  eight  feet,  but  the  vein  is  not  connnonly  supi)osed  to 
be  so  wide. 

At  the  surface  the  connnon  width  of  the  veins  is  from  twenty 
to  twenty-four  inches,  sometimes  exceeding  three  feet.  When 
iirst  discovered  it  Avas  only  ten  or  twelve  inches  wide.  My 
hasty  exann'nation  leads  me  to  sus^ject  that  the  vein  must  em- 
brace most  of  the  rock  carrying  the  metal.  'J'he  richest  part 
of  the  vein  is  sometimes  adjacent  to  the  foot,  and  sometimes 
to  the  hanging-wall.  The  gangue  rock  is  largely  com])osed  of 
dark-blue  (]uart/,  the  remainder  being  a  variety  ot  kellas. 
About  a  ton  weight  of  the  gangue  rock  was  removed  from 
tlie  vein  by  a  single  blast  during  tlie  time  of  my  visit. 

The  common  form  of  tlie  antimony  in  these  veins  is  the 
native,  pure  im^tal.  The  ores  present  in  small  (piantity  are 
the  connnon  sulphuret,  white  oxide,  and  the  red  oxy-sulphu- 
ret  in  binidles  of  radiating  crystals.  The  native  antimony 
occurs,  both  in  large  masses,  and  is  disseminated  througli  the 
gangue.  Dr.  Hayes' assay  shows  tliat  the  un})romising  aj)pear- 
ing  part  of  the  gangue  yield-s  sixty  per  cent,  of  the  metal; 
hence,  we  believe  that  every  fragment  of  the  vein  is  vabiabk'. 
7!  poi'tions  of  the  vein  wliich  a|»i)ear  poor  to  the  inexperi- 
enced eye,  are,  nevertheless,  highly  chai'ged  with  the  metal. 

The  curious  bed  of  serpentine  liigli  up  the  hill  contains 
native  antimony  also.  It  will  be  exceedingly  interesting  to 
find  where  the  lodes  intersect  the  serpentine ;  since  the  rock 
is  so  different  it  may  have  some  inliuence  upon  the  character 
of  the  minerals  in  the  vein.  Here  would  be  a  favoi-able  spot 
to  search  tor  the  occurrence  of  other  valuable  and  unconnnou 
metals  or  ores. 


16 


II 


ii 


The  whole  of  the  schists  contain  small  leaders  or  feeders 
charged  \vith  antimony,  and  making  for  the  principal  lodes. 
Those  wore  seen  west  of  the  serpentine,  where  the  nodular 
masses  of  dark  quartz  lying  between  the  strata  are  also 
charged  with  the  metal. 

The  veins  are  admirably  situated  for  draining.  An  adit 
can  be  cheaply  constructed,  which  shall  strike  a  shaft  150  feet 
from  the  surface.  Or  Nos.  2  and  3  might  be  drifted  into  from 
below,  without  shafting  at  present.  The  rock  may  be  easily 
blasted. 

Water  is  convenient  for  the  washing  of  the  ores,  and  there 
is  a  good  mill-privilc^gc  two  miles  distant  on  the  road  to  the 
railway.  Common  laborers  may  be  hired  for  sixty  cents  per 
diem,  and  experienced  hands  for  eighty  cents.  The  ores  can 
be  transported  to  Artliabaska  for  from  $3.00  to  $5.00  per  ton ; 
and  from  thence  to  l?oston  for  $5.00.  The  low  melting  point 
of  antimony  would  enable  you  to  smelt  it  on  the  spot  with 
little  exi)ense,  and  very  simple  apparatus,  thus  avoiding  nmch 
of  the  expense  of  transportation.  Wood  costs,  on  the  ground, 
from  thirty  to  iifty  cents  per  cord,  and  charcoal  five  cents  per 
bushel.  The  ])ure  metal  will  bring  fifteen  cents  per  pound, 
or  $300  per  ton,  and  the  mines  of  antimony  are  so  few  that 
there  is  little  danger  of  overstocking  the  market.  About 
twenty  tons  of  ore  iiave  already  been  removed  from  the  shaft, 
whose  connnercial  value  will  very  much  exceed  the  exj)ense 
already  incurred  in  sinking  the  excavation. 

The  following  are  the  points  of  greatest  interest  pertaining 
to  the  antimony  mine :  — 

Firsf.  Tlie  antimony  occurs  chiefly  as  the  natwe  metal, 
without  the  addition  of  any  minerali/er.  This  saves  the  ex- 
pense of  reduction  to  tlie  metallic  state. 

Second.  The  veins  are  true  metallic  lodes,  almost  the  only 
cross-course  metallic  veins  in  the  Quebec  grou])  in  Lo\yer 
Canada.  They  occupy  the  best  possible  position  known  lo 
miners  for  permanency  and  improvement  in  descending.  As 
a  matter  of  scientilic  interest  it  is  exceeded  by  no  locality  in 
(.^niada. 

Third.  The  intersections  of  lodes  are  invariably  the  rich- 
est portions  of  veins;  and  three  such  intersections  occur  upon 


17 


this  property,  which  have  not  yet  been  uncovered.  It  may 
be  that  all  three  of  the  veins  will  intersect  at  some  point  be- 
low the  surface. 

Fourth.  The  case  of  reducing  the  gangue  to  the  pure 
metal  on  the  property,  tlio  facility  with  which  the  rock  may 
be  excavated,  the  admirable  position  of  the  mine  as  respects 
drainage,  the  high  price  paid  for  the  metal,  and  its  scarcity, 
together  with  the  remarkable  cheapness  of  fuel  and  labor,' 
combine  to  render  this  property  one  of  very  great  value.  It 
is  sc Mora  that  one  can  recommend  a  mining  property  so  highly 
as  this. 

With  sincere  respect. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

C.  II.   HITCHCOCK, 

Geologist  to  the  State  of  Maine. 
Quebec,  C  E.,  Oct.  ;U,  1863. 
8 


■: 


1!  ■■ 


L  i<:  T  r  K  U  S     F  U  ( )  AI     I'  li  OK.     II  A  ^'  F.  s . 


k;  Uovi.sroN  Sr..  Boston,  C>  Miy.  1S(!:?. 
Wii.r.is   !{i'ssi:i,L,  Ks(,>. 

Dkak  Shi:  Vour  siiiiii)li' dI' nro  rciichcd  mv  to-diiy,  and  as 
its  ai)peiiriiiieu  was  new  to  me,  I  at  onco  allowed  tlic  other 
e.\i»ts.  to  cease,  and  took  your  ore  in  hand. 

It  is  a  ivniai-kMhie  substance,  being  composed  of  oxide  of 
antimony,  metallic  antimony,  iron  ochre. 

Metallic  antimony  is  vt'ry  rare,  and  the  oxide  here  found 
has  l»cen  produced  from  it  l)y  a  slow  process  of  oxidation.  H 
you  can  obtain  such  masses  as  you  sent  to  me,  you  have  only 
to  put  into  a  crucible  a  mixture  of  10  o/s.  ore,  broken  to  the 
si/e  oi'  l»eas,  2  ozs.  charcoal  in  powder,  2  ozs.  soda  ash,  or 
dry  carbonati'  of  soda,  well  mixed,  and  crucible  closed  with 
a  ct)ver,  and  heat  to  redness  until  all  is  melted,  and  you  will 
have,  on  coolinj*',  jmre  metallic  antimony.  Your  ore  contains 
l*ure  metallic  antimony  ...         82 

Oxygen  of  iron  and  earth         .         .         .         18 


100 


I  assayed  it  for  silver  and  g-old^  which  often  accompanios 
the  antimony  ores,  but  could  not  discover  a  workable  quantity. 
From  your  description  I  infer  that  the  deposit  is  in  the  rocks 
between  the  strata,  and  not  crossing  the  direction  of  the  rocks. 
Now,  if  such  be  the  case,  it  may  be  a  bed  or  irregular  masses, 
and  it  a])pears  to  me  well  worthy  of  examination.  The  oxide 
which  accompanies  the  metal  looks  like  some  rocks,  and  there 
may  be  no  delined  walls.  I  write  in  some  haste  in  order  to 
give  you  the  earliest  information,  and  hope  if  our  mutual 
friend,  Mr.  Parker,  is  coming  here,  you  wili  send  another  par- 
cel containing  the  heavy  metallic  part  and  the  lighter  portion, 
with  some  of  the  rock,  that  l  may  be  better  able  to  state  how 


19 


i 


it  occurs.  An  (»ro  of  iintiinoiiy  lias  l)0('n  IuuikI  in  Now  Bruns- 
wicU,  iicMi'  Fi\Ml(>i'ickt()n  ;  l)iit  as  an  (irc  it  is  not  ii(>arly  so  vaiu- 
al)l('  as  tills  hair  nn'tallic  (lei)osit  of  Vdurs.  1  do  not  now 
lliink  of  any  ot'un-  jioint  of  interest  in  I'eply  to  yoni'  inijnii'ies. 
"\'on  ha\'e  a  el  'ar  (»)•(■  as  an  oxiije.  nnxe(l  witli  iiicfclHc  anti- 
nionv.  a  r.ii'e  and  \alnai»le  mi-;.-  eoniniercially,  and  intei'e-tin;j,' 
in  a  srientilic  \it'\v. 

Tiady  vi  nrs, 

A.   A.  !:AVt:s. 


k;   liovi.sioN  Si  i!i:i;r.  r>o>roN.  Mi'.    !•_'.   \s(;:;. 
\Vll,lJS    UrssKM,,    KSQ., 

|)lv\i!  Sn{  :  —  So  soon  as  your  paeka^'e  reached  me  to-<lay  1 
conniieiieed  an  assay  of  the  rock,  and  fonnd  the  hrilliant  points 
to  he  in  part  antimony,  and  in  ])art  pyrites  of  iron,  'i'here  is 
ronsiderahle  antimony  in  the  roek:  and  I  re,uard  this  indication 
liivoraltle  t(t  the  view  that  the  dep(»sit  will  i)rove  to  l»e  lin]i(n- 
tant.  The  oxide  of  antimony  incrnstln<;'  the  nu'tal.  looks  so 
much  like  rock,  that  an  error  could  be  easily  made  in  relation 
to  it  :  other  ores  of  antimonv  reouire  i^-reat  skill  and  a  lar^-o 
loss  is  incuiM'ed  in  workiui;-  them,  Avhile  this  one  can  he  most 
(>asily  worked  into  injL!;ots  hy  a  diivct  fusion  in  crucihles. 

r  h!iv(>  shown  the  native  metal  to  scientilic  persons  here, 
who  expressed  the  same  interest  I  felt  in  the  discovery,  and 
last  ni;A"lit  I  addressed  an  audience  on  the  suhject  of  metals 
found  native,  and  used  your  specimens  for  illustrations.  The 
description  contained  in  your  note  certainly  shows  that  a  reg;- 
ular  vein  exists,  and  i)rol)al)ly  it  will  he  found  to  increase  in 
width,  and  become  clean  with  lininj>-  walls  of  metamorpliic 
Avells.  I  jiidg-ed  the  sam])les  you  sent  to  be  chloritic  slate  in 
fact,  and  tlie  ([uartz  very  cellular,  and  proves  much  like  some 
^n\{\  ({uartz. 

Truly  yours,  A.  A.  HAYKS. 


20 


Nkw   Vouk,  May   I.").   IHO.'t. 

Willis  Uusskll,  Ks(.>. 

r>EAir  Silt: — At'lci-fi  ciiroriil  tt'stiiit;' of  vour  s|)('ciiiu'ns  in 
the  box  ri'fcivcd  I'roin  you,  I  scut  ii  tclc^^Tiiin  of  result  bctin'i' 
k'iiviiiji'  Boston.  Tlic  rock  iiciir  tlic  vein  I'ontuins  iiarticlos  of 
metal  and  oxide  of  antimony.  l»ut  not  in  workable  ((Uantity ; 
and  its  prt'seiiee  is  indicativi'  of  a  rock  existing'  in  the  i-onnec- 
tion  somewliert'. 

1  was  much  interested  in  your  ai'coinil  of  the  vein,  and  in- 
deed in  tlu'  whole  matter  ;  since  I  have  been  hei'c  I  have  given 
some  publicity  to  the  liict  of  discovering,  and  every  one  has 
ex|)ressed  surprise  and  the  sti'oiigcst  ho])es  of  the  disi'ovei'y 
proving  (tf  high  value. 

'I'herc  is  much  expectation  here!,  too,  in  relation  to  the  dis- 
coveries of  I'opper  ore  in  Canada,  and  generally  a  disposition 
to  invest  ca]>ital  in  pi-oinising  mining  adventures  which  I  have 
not  noticed  for  several  years,  'riie  rock  which  vou  sent  to 
n'le  is  eminently  a  iin'neral  rock,  and  I  have  seen  it  connected 
with  gold,  sihci',  and  coppci'  ores  iVom  various  countries, 
some  of  the  ccilulai'  pieces  ol'  the  gray  (piartz  reminded  me 
oi'  many  assays  lor  rich  gold  oi"e,  and  if  in  a  gold-bearing 
region,  I  have  no  doubt  it  wouhl  be  the  gold-bearing  rock  of 
the  country  generally.  I  do  not  feel  abh^  t<»  stati',  any  moi'e 
delinitely,  suggestions  in  relation  to  the  veift  of  antimony,  be- 
cause r  dt)  not  form,  nor  can  I  timl  any  wtdl-groundod  knowl- 
edge on  the  subject.  This  metal,  therefore,  has  been  found 
connected  with  oi-es  of  antimony,  excepting  perhaps  in  Mex- 
ico, always  so  related,  and  your  pursuit  of  it  must  be  thori^foi'o 
;i  different  search,  and  in  fact  a  careful  tra(;ing  of  wall-rock,  in 
([uest  of  a  vein  of  metal  which  may  not  be  developed  on  the 
surtiice. 

1  feel  much  interested  in  this  discovery,  ami  pleased  to  have 
been  able  to  examine  tin;  metal. 

ii'you  can  send  me  sonn-  specimens,  I    shall  juesent   them 
///  i/oar   name,   to  scieiitilic  socit^ties,  when;    they  will   be  a|j- 


preeiated 


^rrulv  vours 


A.  A    HAYE.s. 


IIM: 


21 


I 


K;  lioYLSTON    StUKKT,  HosTON,  Oct.   1!»,  IHCi.'t. 

WiLT.is  Russell,  Esq. 

Pkau  Sir:  —  I  was  absent  wlien  your  packiigv  ciimo,  but 
have  now  eonipleted  tbe  analyses. 

No.  1  was  rook  with  some  <j;'ranules  of  sulpliuret  of  iron  and 
much  native  antimony. 

No.  2  was  the  same,  with  other  roek  admixed. 
No.  3,  simihir. 

One  piece  was  very  compact  native  antimony  in  which  a 
few  p,Tanules  ctf  sul|)liuret  of  antimony  was  foinxh  'I'he  speci- 
mens did  not  }j;-ive,  l)y  analysis  of  the  metallic  part,  more  than 
traces  of  sulphuret  ot' antimony,  but  the  sulphuret  of  iron  was 
in  larger  |)roportion:  some  of  the  ([uartz  was  dark  colored,  as 
if  auriferiais,  and  many  parts  were  like  jn .id-bearing  (piart/.. 

An  average  was  made  of  the  three  numbers,  and  this  avcir- 
age  was  used  in  the  trials. 

One  hundred  parts  contained  (iO  ])er  cent,  of  antimony. 
An  assay  tin  was  used  for  determining  silver  and  gold.     No 
traces  of  these  metals  were  found.     Neither  copi>er,  nickel,  or 
cobalt  is  present. 

It  will  lie  seen  that  although  the  rock  attached  to  the  sam- 
ples dift'er,  and  the  metallic  parts  present  som(>  points  of  more 
or  h'ss  compactness,  yet  the  true  metallic  i)art  is  the  siime  in 
all  of  them.  They  are  deceptive  in  appearance  too,  the 
amount  of  metal   contained  is   larger  than   would  have   been 

sui)i)osed,  1  think.  Truly  yours, 

A.  A.  HAYES. 


m 


■  . 


1 


, 


1 1  pi 


Mi 


IJKI'OUT   OF    IIKRUKirr    WILLIAMS,    LS(^ 


ins 


ll\i:\i:v   llii.i.  Cni-i'i.ii   .Minis, 
l,i:i:i>s.  Mi;(i.\Mic.  ('.   I).. 

Si  i'i:i!iN  ii.Mn.N  i"s   Oi  iici;,  stli  Fclini;nT,  isdi. 
WiM-is  KussKi.i,,  Ks(^.   fjnehec. 

lU'iwi  Sii{: — -  llii\iii,i:' ]»iii(l  iiiv  sccoikI  iiKHitlily  x'isit  to  tlic 
Soiitli  Ham  Aiitinioiiy  .Mines  on  tlio  2(1  inst.,  1  n(»\v  bc^-  to  iiiy 
l)L'l'ore  yon  tlic  t"ollo\vin<;'  rcjioit  on  the  |)i'o^ress  ot"  tlic  woik 
durin};'  tiic  \y.\M  month. 

Tlio  ivtimhoriiiiL;'  of  tlic  slial't  liiis  hccn  well  and  earefnlly 
(lone,  and  the  sshal't  was  snnk  dni'in;^'  the  month  of  Jannary 
two  fathoms,  tlnvo  f'et't,  nint'  inches;  its  total  de})th  IVttni  the 
In-ace  Itoinj;'  four   {'atlioms,  three  feet,  nine  inches. 

The  j;ronnd  is  apparently  liecomin^-  a  little  harder  and  more 
settled  in  its  nature,  so  that  I  considered  it  was  a  little  lietter 
lor  sinkin^i',  and  I  accordiujii'ly  reset  the  work  for  the  month 
of  February  ut  the  sume  pricc^  that  was  paid  ibr  last  month, 
vi/:  seventy-live  dollars  per  tatliom. 

Th;'  lode  is  evideutly  imi)rovinji;-  as  we  j;'o  down  and  apj)ar- 
ently  becoming-  more  orey;  the  entire  width  of  the  settled 
portion  of  the  lode  near  the  bottom  of  the  shaft,  as  measured 
l>v  myself,  beinu"  two  feet  four  iiu'hes  in  the  cletir,  whilst  there 
Avas  still  some  lode  stull"  Avith  tlit>  oxide  and  sulphuret  of  an- 
timony to  be  seen  in  the  side  of  the  shaft  Avhich  1  direet(Hl  the 
contnietor  to  take  down. 

The  ore  us  broken  has  been  [»lactM|  on  on*'  side,  but  there 
being  no  building  to  place  it  in,  the  same  Avas  so  covered  uj) 
with  snow  and  frost  that  it  was  cpiite  impossible  to  estimate 
even  approximatively  the  amount  of  ore  got  out. 

Xow  that  the  discovery  of  gold  in  this  province  is  attrac't- 
ing  almost  universal  attention.  I  think  it  necessary  that  I 
sh(.uld  mention  that   the  ( 'onipan\ 's  property  lies  within  the 


n; 


2B 


limits  of  the  ;;'()l(l-l)i'iiriiij;-  ro^'ion,  mid  I  would  rccomiiu'iid  that 
cfirctul  ('X[)ioriitioiis  lie  iiiiido  oarlv  in  the  s|»riiig  with  a  view 
to  test  its  vahic  lor  thi'  [-rccioiis  iiii'tal. 

I  have  also  to  <'all  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  occasional 
siieeks  of  yellow  sulphiiret  of  eo|ii»er  has  lie»'n  met  with  in 
the  shaft  durin;^-  the  past  month,  and  as  the  dioi'ites  nvv  known 
to  carry  that  mineral  in  payinjj^  (juantities  in  several  parts  of 
tlu!  i)rovince,  I  am  indinec]  to  the  oj)inion  that  cop|)er  ores 
may  l»e  found  on  the  Company's  [)roperty  in  suflicient  ([uaiiti- 
ties  to  pay  for  their  extraction,  and  with  a  view  to  a  more 
thoroui^h  and  systematic  exploration  of  the  property  for  l»oth 
gold  and  copper  as  well  as  tlu!  antimony  veins  already  dis- 
covered. I  would  reconnnend  that  a  cross-out  be  driven  from 
the  foot  of  the  hill,  so  as  to  intersect  the  antimony  veins  at  a 
depth  of  alxmt  20  to  2;j  fathoms  below  their  outcrops  ;  and 
should  the  ('ompany  determine  to  adopt  this  sug-j^-estion,  I  will 
on  my  next  visit  take  the  neccessary  jueasureinents  in  order 
to  determine  the  point  at  which  it  should  be  commenced. 

Your  instruct*. ns  on  this  important  subject  shall  receive 
my  careful  and  best  attention. 

I  am,  dear  sir. 

Your  obd't  serv't, 

HERBERT  WILLIAMS. 


